Improvement in harrows



C. TOLLE. 81: C. WIRTH. Harrow.

No. 198,7!0. Patented Dec. 25, 1877.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

, cEARLEs'ToLLE AND CHRISTIAN wIRTmoE GODEREY, ILLINOIS.'

IMPROVEMENT INHARRO'WS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent N04. `198,'210, dated December 25, 1877; application iiled October 5,1877.

i To all lwhom/t may concern:

"Be it known that we, ,CHAELEs TOLLE and CHRISTIAN WIRTE, both of Godfrey,jMadi son county, and' State of Illinois, have invented an Improved Harrow, of which vthe followingis a specification: f j

The nature of ourinvention consists in the peculiar parts and their operation toachieve the results and advantages as will hereinafter appear. A

Of the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation. Fig.2 is a top plan. Fig. Sisa perspective view of one of our couplings. Figs. 4 and 5 are respective side elevations of the parts bymeans whereof' the teeth can be adjustably secured indifferent inclinations.

A is the required frame, divided in the center by a longitudinal bar, A, said frame paits being to support the operating parts. B represent a series of turn-bars, arranged cross- Wise and properly journaled. Said turn-bars carry the harrow-teeth, our object being to achieve with our harrow the advantages of a rotary harrow. The series of teeth b are secured in each turn-bar in such a way that said teeth shall have their sharpened points (both ends of the teeth) to project upward and downward, in order to penetrate the soil.

b' are teeth passing lthrough the turn-bars B near their ends, (see Fig. 2,) being set at Y right angles to the teeth b. When the teeth b are being drawn out of the ground the teeth b catch into the ground, and revolve the turn` bars so that the opposite ends of the teeth b will come into operation, and thus, both sets of teeth b boperating, produce a rotary harrow.

Our improvements more chiefly relateto the combination of the parts that enable the operator to adjust and secure the harroW-teeth in different positions required, and to adapt the same to operate in accordance with the nature Aof the soil, the seed or growth to be cultivated,

and otherwise to suit thepeculiar requirements of the case.

VThe said parts in their construction and operation are as follows: C and D represent `duplicate couplings, the peculiar constructive shape of one, in its entirety, being shown in Fig. 3. Each coupling is a casting possessing these constructive features, viz., a

semicircular bearing at c, the projecting eccentric sides c1 c2, and the opposite lug-bearings .03, allA shown in Fig. 3. The bearing c is to iit the joint of each coupling when securedtoeachturn-bar.` The twooduplicate couplings C and D are jointed to each turn-bar in the operative relationship shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5, and so that the eccentric sides e102 of veach coupling shall present the oppositeA bearingedge at c4 c5. Theoperative position for each coupling C D is on each-tumbar immediately contiguous to the oppositel faces of the dividing-bar a. (SeeFigs. 2, 4, 5.) The saine bolt that passes through the lugs of the upper coupling also passes through the lugs ofthe lower coupling, thus securing both devices rigidly to the turn-bar, and so as to turn with same. The journaling of the lower coupling is further secured by a strap, o6, which is passed between the sides c1 c2 over the journal part c, both ends of lsaid strap being properly bolted to the under side of the dividing-bar of the frame. Each turn-bar has, therefore, two couplings, C D.v The respective four e`ccentric sides of both couplings project on the opposite sides of the dividing-bar a. (See Figs. 2, 4, 5.) This arrangement is for the purpose of combining said couplings with a lever attachment.

The lever attachment with which we provide the top of the frame is as follows: To the top of the dividing-bar a We secure the respective fulcrum-bars d, each having a series of holes, d. (See Figs. l, 4, 5.) The fulcrum for the respective trip-levers can be changed from one hole, d', to another. E are the trip-levers, of

the constructive shape indicated in the drawing, so that each can be pivoted to the fulcrumbars, said levers having the stops at e, and by their upright arm can. be pivoted to a horizontal bar, F. (See Figs. l, 2, 4, 5.) Thebar F extends to the rear of the barrow, and by pivotal connection with an arm, f, is operated by the hand-lever F', having its fulcrum at f. (See Fig. le.) Each of the trip-levers E in arrangement can thus, by means of the parts F', f, and F, be operated so that the stops e shall engage or be disengaged from the bearing-edges c4 c5 of the couplings.

The operation of our improved harrow is as follows: When used as a rotary harrow, (in which case the turn-bars with the teeth continually revolve in the act of harrowing,) the trip-levers E are kept out of engagement from the eccentric sides of each coupling. The operator can further adjust and secure the teeth in three different positions, according to the nature of the work it is desiredthe harrow should perform. Thus the teeth can be set at an inclination, (see Figs. l and 4,)so as to harrow deep and reach, break, and level the lumps and heavier clods. For this purpose, suit lthe fulcrum of each trip-lever so that the stops e shall hold fast the couplings and prevent'the turn-bars from revolving. It can be here stated that in case the teeth that penetrate the soil become clogged by weeds, rubbish, 85o., that the operatorneeds onlyto cause each trip-lever to let go its hold on the couplings in order to permit the turn-bars to revolve so as to bring the opposite points of the teeth into play or action. In the very act of revolving (by the force of the draft and the action of the teeth passing up through the soil) the teeth are freed from their accumulations. ln like mannerthe operatordisengages the trip-levers from the couplings,to permit the teeth to pass over stumps or obstructions.

When the teeth are set and held in a vertical position, our harrow can perform the work of all ordinary harrows in breaking, stirring, and

leveling the soil, destroyingweeds,&c. When the teeth are set and held inthe inclination shown in Fig. 5, the act of harrowing is easy for the draft-team. The teeth then smooth, level, and free the soil, and the harrowingcan be done best for covering the seed, especially cultivating corn, clover-seed, &c. We can, therefore, harrow deep, shallow, or smooth the soil, and, as is apparent, the changes of position for the teeth necessitate a change of fulcrum for the trip-levers, and when this is first done the operation to cause each trip-lever to catch hold or let go the couplings is done simultaneously by the operation of the handlever.

What we claim isi 1. The fulcrum -bar d, having adjustingholes d', the trip-lever E, having stops e, in combination with the bearing-edges c4 c5 of the couplings G and D, to operate as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the lever-arm and rod-connections with trip-levers E, fulcrumoHARLEs TOLLE. onnrsTiAN winrrn.

Witnesses BENJ, WEBsTER, F. SMITH. 

